Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
506. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding schools can avail of to build a playground or a sensory area for children in a special class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45716/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, that my department provides €30,000 funding to school authorities when a new Special education class is being opened, to facilitate the set up process. Schools have flexibility as to how they allocate the funding, subject to the understanding and acceptance that this would be the full and final capital grant covering core requirements in the areas of furniture and equipment, classroom ICT, quiet space and minor room decoration. Schools can choose to use this funding to establish a sensory area to support a Special education class.
It is also open to schools to apply for up to €80,000 to repurpose existing accommodation for establishing a new special class, to include works to create an external play space for these pupils.
Where a school has already established special classes and they have not applied for funding previously; it is open to schools to make an application under my department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme to develop a school play space for the specific benefit of the children enrolled in the special classes. Further details of this are available at www.gov.ie/education.
In the case of schools which have already established special classes, and they have not availed of funding previously to open a sensory room, funding of €7,000 is made available by my department for the provision of the start-up of a sensory room within a school. To be eligible for the grant, the school must demonstrate it has an National Council for Special Education approved ASD class and that there is a suitable room to house the sensory room (i.e. drawings of the school layout with the sensory room and ASD class clearly marked). The sensory room must be a separate room from that of the ASD class and must have its own separate entry/exit. Only one sensory room grant is funded by my department per school. It is intended that this funding can also be used for the purchase of sensory equipment. A sensory room is primarily intended for use by students within the school and is not confined to students within a specific classroom.
Such classrooms for pupils with special education needs are included as standard in the accommodation brief for new school buildings and major extension projects. The overall accommodation suite for students with special education needs also generally includes ancillary accommodation such as a Central Activities Space, a Multi Activity Room and Quiet Spaces as well as an outdoor Secure Play Area and Sensory Garden.
The Deputy will be aware that my department published the sectoral investment plan which details the total of €7.55 billion which will be invested in the education and youth sectors between 2026 and 2030. This is a very significant investment that will help deliver on our commitment to have a world-class education system supporting every learner to reach their full potential. I can assure the Deputy that special education needs accommodation projects will remain a key priority throughout the duration of the National Development Plan period.
